Fail safe mode limits RPM to 2500 and at that point, it will cause the engine to surge, if that's what's occurring. There should also be a stored trouble code in the ECM. If it's going to 3000 and misfiring, it may not necessarily be fail safe mode. You also fail to mention what year and what type of SR20 you have (DE...DET...Di...VE...VET?), which might be helpful.